The present work numerically investigates two-dimensional (2-D) solidification transport phenomena (EM-STP) during continuous casting (CC) process in the absence and the presence of static magnetic fields (SMFs), based on a unified numerical model. For the purpose of controlling vortexes, the electromagnetic brake (EMBR) effects of various SMFs under the given depth of submerged entry nozzle (SEN) and the same casting velocity V0 are investigated. ANSYS software is used to analyze the SMFs that applied to the EMCC process, and then a data-conversion program based on the principle of linear interpolation proposed previously is used to deal with the issue of data-format-matching between FEM and FVM. The simulation results indicate that, an appropriate SMF can effectively suppress the bulk liquid flow in CC-process of steel plate, and with increase of the intensity of applied magnetic fields, the vortexes become weaker and the oscillating amplitude of impinging jet decreases. Based on the knowledge gained from the EMCC-STP analysis and by comparing the results with the applied magnetic fields with those without magnetic fields, it is found that a SMF with |Bmax|=55×10-3 T can meet the need of braking, and consequently improve the quality of casting by reducing the penetration of non-metallic inclusions, as well as avoiding breakout, macro-segregation and crack ultimately.
A unified numerical model for simulating solidification transport phenomena (STP) of steel slab in electromagnetic continuous casting (EMCC) process was developed. In order to solve the multi-physics fields coupled problem conveniently, the complicated bidirectional coupled process between EM and STP was simplified as a unidirectional one, and a FEM/FVM-combined numerical simulation technique was adopted. The traveling magnetic fields (TMFs) applied to the EMCC process were calculated using the ANSYS11.0 software, and then the EM-data output by ANSYS were converted to FVM-format using a data-format conversion program developed previously. Thereafter, the governing equations were solved using a pressure-based Direct-SIMPLE algorithm. The simulation results of the STP in CC-process show that, due to the influences of Lorentz force and Joule heat, the two strong circulating flows and the temperature field can be obviously damped and changed once TMF with one pair of poles (1-POPs) or 2-POPs is applied, which would accordingly improve the quality of casting. It was found in the present research that the integrated actions of 2-POPs TMF are superior to 1-POPs. All the computations indicate that the present numerical model of EM-STP as well as the FEM/FVM-combined technique is successful.
Gong HaijunLi XinzhongFan XueyiQie JuhongXu DamingGuo Jingjie